Uncle Tom’s Cabin is the most influential literary work with regard to the discussion of slavery of the 18th and 19th century America. In her novel, Harriet Beecher Stowe aims to draw society’s attention to the inhumanity of its system with the help of the novel’s protagonist, Uncle Tom, and various other characters, both black and white. In so doing, she presents different types of femininity and masculinity which help to point out the nature of the system of slavery. Generally speaking, women in Beecher Stowe’s work present abolitionist ideas stating the evil of the system whereas the depiction of male characters is more complex. This paper seeks to examine the types of masculinity in Uncle Tom’s Cabin, distinguishing between good and bad, black and white masculinity embodied in the characterization of the characters.
Masculinity has always been associated with physical strength and muscles, toughness and power but most of all courage. This paper, however, will not only address masculinity as such but will also show that masculinity is courage by softness and religious faith. Harriet Beecher Stowe disguises variations of masculinity in her characters: Bad white masculinity is depicted in the behavior of the plantation owner Simon Legree in contrast to the Kentuckian Mr. Shelby and Mr. Augustine St. Clare from New Orleans who imply good white masculinity. The latter two may depict an intermediate position between bad white and black masculinity presented by the slaves Uncle Tom and George Harris. Since Uncle Tom’s Cabin is considered to be a novel in favor of the abolition of slavery, black masculinity is unlikely to be presented badly. This paper therefore focuses on the above-mentioned characters and how they present different types of masculinity, also in relation to how they treat other human beings.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Black Masculinity in Uncle Tom's Cabin
- The Character of Uncle Tom
- The Character of George Harris
- White Masculinity in Uncle Tom's Cabin
- The Characters of Mr. Shelby and Mr. Augustine St. Clare
- The Character of Mr. Legree
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the representation of masculinity in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, focusing on the contrasting portrayals of black and white masculinity. The objective is to analyze how Stowe uses characterization to highlight the complexities of masculinity within the context of 19th-century American slavery and its inherent inhumanity.
- Contrasting portrayals of black and white masculinity
- The role of religion and faith in defining black masculinity
- The diverse representations of white masculinity, ranging from benevolent to brutal
- The connection between masculinity and the treatment of others
- Stowe's use of characterization to critique the system of slavery
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This introduction sets the stage for the paper by establishing Uncle Tom's Cabin's significance in the 18th and 19th-century discussions surrounding slavery. It highlights Stowe's aim to expose the system's inhumanity through her characters, emphasizing the contrasting portrayals of femininity and masculinity. The paper's focus is explicitly stated: to examine the different types of masculinity presented, differentiating between "good" and "bad," and "black" and "white" masculinity.
Black Masculinity in Uncle Tom's Cabin: This chapter analyzes how Stowe portrays black masculinity, arguing that it is characterized by goodness, fortitude, and faith rather than solely physical strength. It emphasizes freedom and belief as core values, contrasting the typical association of masculinity with physical dominance. Black male characters are depicted as kind, hardworking, and loyal, exhibiting restraint in the use of violence, employing it only in self-defense or to protect the innocent. Their courage is demonstrated through their adherence to religious principles, even at the risk of severe punishment.
White Masculinity in Uncle Tom's Cabin: This section explores the diverse representations of white masculinity in the novel, contrasting the figures of Mr. Shelby and Mr. St. Clare with the brutal Mr. Legree. Mr. Shelby and Mr. St. Clare, while slaveholders, represent a more moderate form of white masculinity, potentially acting as a bridge between the more extreme forms represented by Legree and the black male characters. Legree, on the other hand, embodies the cruelty and brutality inherent in the system of slavery, serving as a stark counterpoint to the more benevolent portrayals of white masculinity and the morally upright black masculinity presented by characters like Uncle Tom.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Masculinity, Black Masculinity, White Masculinity, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Slavery, Religion, Faith, Violence, Benevolence, Character Analysis, Moral Courage.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analyzing Masculinity in Harriet Beecher Stowe's *Uncle Tom's Cabin*
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the representation of masculinity in Harriet Beecher Stowe's *Uncle Tom's Cabin*, specifically contrasting the portrayals of black and white masculinity within the context of 19th-century American slavery.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The key themes include contrasting portrayals of black and white masculinity, the role of religion and faith in shaping black masculinity, the diverse representations of white masculinity (ranging from benevolent to brutal), the connection between masculinity and the treatment of others, and Stowe's use of characterization to critique the system of slavery.
Which characters are analyzed in the paper, and how are they categorized?
The paper analyzes several key characters. Black masculinity is explored through characters like Uncle Tom and George Harris. White masculinity is examined through contrasting figures such as Mr. Shelby, Mr. Augustine St. Clare, and the brutal Mr. Legree. The analysis categorizes these characters based on their representation of "good" versus "bad" masculinity, and "black" versus "white" masculinity.
How does the paper characterize black masculinity in *Uncle Tom's Cabin*?
The paper argues that Stowe portrays black masculinity as characterized by goodness, fortitude, and faith, emphasizing freedom and belief as core values. Black male characters are depicted as kind, hardworking, and loyal, demonstrating restraint in the use of violence and employing it primarily for self-defense or the protection of the innocent.
How does the paper characterize white masculinity in *Uncle Tom's Cabin*?
The paper explores the diverse representations of white masculinity, contrasting figures like the more moderate Mr. Shelby and Mr. St. Clare with the brutal Mr. Legree. Mr. Shelby and Mr. St. Clare represent a more moderate form, while Legree embodies the cruelty and brutality inherent in the system of slavery, providing a stark counterpoint to both the more benevolent portrayals of white masculinity and the morally upright black masculinity.
What is the overall objective of the paper?
The paper aims to analyze how Stowe uses characterization to highlight the complexities of masculinity within the context of 19th-century American slavery and its inherent inhumanity.
What are the key chapters and their summaries?
The paper includes an introduction setting the context and outlining the focus; a chapter analyzing black masculinity; a chapter analyzing white masculinity; and a conclusion. Each chapter provides a detailed analysis of the relevant characters and their portrayal of masculinity within the novel's narrative.
What are the keywords associated with this paper?
Key words include: Masculinity, Black Masculinity, White Masculinity, *Uncle Tom's Cabin*, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Slavery, Religion, Faith, Violence, Benevolence, Character Analysis, Moral Courage.
What is the intended audience for this analysis?
This analysis is intended for academic use, supporting structured and professional analysis of themes within *Uncle Tom's Cabin*. The OCR data is provided for research purposes.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Lisa Cramer (Autor:in), 2014, Black and White Masculinity in Uncle Tom's Cabin, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/275919
